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Abstract:

A supply device includes a supply roller, a prevention member, a
restriction member, and a rotatably supported rotary member. The supply
roller supplies a medium. When in a first posture, the prevention member
prevents the medium from being supplied by the supply roller. When in a
second posture different from the first posture, the prevention member
allows the medium to be supplied by the supply roller. When located at a
determined position, the restriction member restricts a shift of the
prevention member from the first posture to the second posture. When
rotated, the rotary member moves the restriction member located at the
determined position and releases the restriction on the prevention member
imposed by the restriction member, and thereafter moves the supply roller
and brings the supply roller into contact with the medium.

Claims:

1. A supply device comprising: a supply roller that supplies a medium; a
prevention member that, when in a first posture, prevents the medium from
being supplied by the supply roller, and that, when in a second posture
different from the first posture, allows the medium to be supplied by the
supply roller; a restriction member that, when located at a determined
position, restricts a shift of the prevention member from the first
posture to the second posture; and a rotatably supported rotary member
that, when rotated, moves the restriction member located at the
determined position and releases the restriction on the prevention member
imposed by the restriction member, and thereafter moves the supply roller
and brings the supply roller into contact with the medium.

2. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein, when the supply
roller supplies the medium, the prevention member is pressed by the
medium and shifted from the first posture to the second posture, and is
returned to the first posture by the self-weight of the prevention member
after the passage of the medium through the prevention member.

3. An image forming apparatus comprising: the supply device according to
claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image on the medium
supplied by the supply device.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-061921 filed Mar. 19, 2012.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a supply device and an image
forming apparatus.

[0004] 2. Summary

[0005] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a supply
device including a supply roller, a prevention member, a restriction
member, and a rotatably supported rotary member. The supply roller
supplies a medium. When in a first posture, the prevention member
prevents the medium from being supplied by the supply roller. When in a
second posture different from the first posture, the prevention member
allows the medium to be supplied by the supply roller. When located at a
determined position, the restriction member restricts a shift of the
prevention member from the first posture to the second posture. When
rotated, the rotary member moves the restriction member located at the
determined position and releases the restriction on the prevention member
imposed by the restriction member, and thereafter moves the supply roller
and brings the supply roller into contact with the medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described
in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an
image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a supply section;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the supply section in a standby
state;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a projecting portion inserted in
a lever receiving member;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a state in which a locking
member is separated from a stopper; and

[0013] FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing the movement of the stopper
performed when a sheet is supplied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1. EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

1-1. Overall Configuration

[0014]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an
image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment.
As illustrated in the drawing, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a
supply section 12, developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, a transfer
unit 14, a heating unit 15, and a transport unit 16. Alphabetical
characters Y, M, C, and K in reference symbols indicate configurations
corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively.
The developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are different only in toner
to be used, and are not substantially different in configuration. In the
following, when it is not particularly necessary to distinguish between
the developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the developing units 13Y,
13M, 13C, and 13K will be referred to as the "developing units 13," with
omission of the alphabetical characters at the ends of the reference
symbols indicating toner colors.

[0015] The supply section 12 includes a container and a supply unit. The
container stores sheets P each cut into a predetermined size and serving
as a medium. In accordance with an instruction from a not-illustrated
controller, the sheets P stored in the container are extracted one by one
and supplied to the transport unit 16 by the supply unit. The medium is
not limited to a paper sheet, and may be a sheet made of a resin, for
example. That is, it suffices if the medium allows an image to be
recorded on a surface thereof.

[0016] The transport unit 16 includes transport rollers. The transport
unit 16 transports to the transfer unit 14 the sheet P supplied from the
supply section 12. The transport unit 16 further transports to the
outside of a housing of the image forming apparatus 1 the sheet P having
passed the transfer unit 14 and the heating unit 15.

[0017] Each of the developing units 13 includes a photoconductor drum 31,
a charging device 32, an exposure device 33, a developing device 34, a
first transfer roller 35, and a drum cleaner 36. The photoconductor drum
31 is an image carrier including a charge generating layer and a charge
transporting layer, and is rotated in the direction of an arrow D13 in
the drawing by a not-illustrated drive unit. The charging device 32
charges a surface of the photoconductor drum 31. The exposure device 33
includes a laser light emission source and a polygon mirror (both not
illustrated). Under a control of the controller, the exposure device 33
radiates laser light according to image data to the photoconductor drum
31 charged by the charging device 32. Thereby, latent images are held by
the respective photoconductor drums 31. The above-described image data
may be acquired by the controller from an external device via a
not-illustrated communication unit. The external device may be, for
example, a reading device which reads an original image or a storage
device which stores data representing an image.

[0018] The developing device 34 stores a two-component developer
containing a toner of one of the Y, M, C, and K colors and a magnetic
carrier made of ferrite powder or the like. Further, when the tips of
spikes of a magnetic brush formed in the developing device 34 come into
contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 31, the toner adheres
to a portion of the surface of the photoconductor drum 31 exposed to the
laser light by the exposure device 33, i.e., adheres to an image area
corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. Thereby, an image is
formed (developed) on the photoconductor drum 31.

[0019] The first transfer roller 35 generates a predetermined potential
difference at a position at which an intermediate transfer belt 41 of the
transfer unit 14 faces the photoconductor drum 31. With this potential
difference, the first transfer roller 35 transfers the image to the
intermediate transfer belt 41. The drum cleaner 36 removes untransferred
toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 31 after the
transfer of the image, and discharges the surface of the photoconductor
drum 31. That is, the drum cleaner 36 removes unnecessary toner and
charge from the photoconductor drum 31 in preparation for the next image
formation.

[0020] The transfer unit 14 includes the intermediate transfer belt 41, a
second transfer roller 42, belt transport rollers 43, and a backup roller
44, and transfers the image formed by the developing unit 13 to the sheet
P of a sheet type determined in accordance with an operation by a user.
The intermediate transfer belt 41 is an endless belt member. The belt
transport rollers 43 and the backup roller 44 stretch the intermediate
transfer belt 41. At least one of the belt transport rollers 43 and the
backup roller 44 is provided with a drive unit (not illustrated) to move
the intermediate transfer belt 41 in the direction of an arrow D14 in the
drawing. Any of the belt transport rollers 43 and the backup roller 44
not having the drive unit is driven to rotate by the movement of the
intermediate transfer belt 41. In accordance with the movement and
rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 41 in the direction of the
arrow D14 in the drawing, the image on the intermediate transfer belt 41
is moved to an area between the second transfer roller 42 and the backup
roller 44.

[0021] With a potential difference between the second transfer roller 42
and the intermediate transfer belt 41, the second transfer roller 42
transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 to the sheet P
transported from the transport unit 16. A belt cleaner 49 removes
untransferred toner remaining on a surface of the intermediate transfer
belt 41. Then, the transfer unit 14 and the transport unit 16 transport
to the heating unit 15 the sheet P having the image transferred thereto.
The combination of the developing units 13 and the transfer unit 14 is an
example of an image forming unit of the invention, which forms an image
on a medium.

[0022] The heating unit 15 includes, for example, a magnetic field
generating circuit which generates a magnetic field, a heating belt which
generates heat by electromagnetic induction caused by the action of the
generated magnetic field, and a pressure roller which transports the
sheet P by nipping the sheet P between the heating belt and the pressure
roller. The heating unit 15 heats the sheet P to thereby fix the image
transferred to the sheet P.

1-2. Configuration of Supply Section

[0023]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the supply section
12. In the following drawings, to describe the arrangement of respective
configurations of the supply section 12, the space in which the
configurations are arranged will be illustrated as a right-handed xyz
coordinate space. Further, among coordinate symbols illustrated in the
drawings, a symbol of a black dot drawn inside a white circle represents
an arrow directed from the far side toward the near side in the drawings.
In the space, directions along the x-axis will be referred to as the
x-axis directions. Further, one of the x-axis directions in which the
x-component is increased will be referred to as the +x direction, and the
other x-axis direction in which the x-component is reduced will be
referred to as the -x direction. Further, y-axis directions, a +y
direction, a -y direction, z-axis directions, a +z direction, and a -z
direction are also defined in terms of the y-component and the
z-component, respectively. When the sheet P passes the supply section 12,
the sheet P is transported in the -y direction. Further, the x-axis
directions correspond to the width direction of the sheet P.

[0024] A supply unit 120 includes a housing 1200, a supply roller 1201, a
separation roller 1202, and a lever receiving member 1203. The housing
1200 holds therein the supply roller 1201 and the separation roller 1202
by supporting respective shafts of the supply roller 1201 and the
separation roller 1202. The lever receiving member 1203 forms an internal
space with plate-shaped members combined together, and is provided to a
side wall of the housing 1200.

[0025] A drive force transmitting mechanism 121 includes a shaft 1211, a
gear 1212, and a lever 1213. The shaft 1211 is a cylindrical member
extending in the x-axis directions. The gear 1212 is rotated by a
not-illustrated driving device. When rotated, the gear 1212 transmits
rotational force thereof to the shaft 1211 provided coaxially with the
gear 1212. The lever 1213 is provided around the circumference of the
shaft 1211. The lever 1213 includes a cylindrical base member 1213t
covering a side surface of the shaft 1211 and a rod-shaped member 1213s
radially extending from the cylindrical base member 1213t. The
cylindrical base member 1213t included in the lever 1213 is provided
coaxially with the shaft 1211. The cylindrical base member 1213t rotates
with an inner wall surface thereof sliding on the side surface of the
shaft 1211. Further, the rod-shaped member 1213s of the lever 1213
rotates in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical base member
1213t.

[0026]FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram of the supply section 12. The shaft
of the separation roller 1202 is supported by the housing 1200, and
projects from an outer wall of the housing 1200. The projecting portion
of the shaft is inserted into an end portion of the shaft 1211 opposite
to an end portion of the shaft 1211 provided with the gear 1212. Thereby,
the shaft of the separation roller 1202 is connected to the shaft 1211.
Further, the rotational force of the gear 1212 is transmitted to the
separation roller 1202 via the shaft 1211.

[0027] An end portion of the rod-shaped member 1213s of the lever 1213 far
from the cylindrical base member 1213t is provided with a projecting
portion 1213a extending in the -x direction. The projecting portion 1213a
is inserted into the internal space of the above-described lever
receiving member 1203.

[0028] A fastening member 122 is connected to a portion of the shaft of
the separation roller 1202 opposite to the portion of the shaft inserted
into the end portion of the shaft 1211. The fastening member 122 fastens
the supply unit 120 to prevent the supply unit 120 from coming off the
shaft 1211 in a direction along the axis of the shaft 1211.

[0029] A stopper 124 (prevention member) comes into contact with
respective leading end portions of the sheets P in the direction of
supplying the sheets P stored in the container (supply direction), and
prevents the sheet P from being supplied in the supply direction.
Further, the stopper 124 aligns the leading end portions of the stacked
plural sheets P.

[0030] When a locking member 123 is located at a determined position, the
locking member 123 restricts the movement of the stopper 124 (restriction
member).

[0031] Operations of the stopper 124 and the locking member 123 will be
described in detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the supply section
12 in a standby state in which the sheets P are not supplied by the
supply unit 120. FIG. 4 illustrates the supply section 12 in the standby
state, as viewed in the -x direction. The projecting portion 1213a of the
lever 1213 is inserted in the lever receiving member 1203. Thus, the
supply unit 120 moves in conjunction with the movement of the lever 1213.
The lever 1213 is provided to rotate around an axis O1 of the shaft 1211.
Therefore, the supply unit 120 moves around the axis O1.

[0032] A separation plate 125 is provided under (on the -z direction side
of) the separation roller 1202 provided in the supply unit 120. The
distance between the separation plate 125 and the separation roller 1202
is adjusted. If the plural sheets P are supplied at one time to the
position between the separation plate 125 and the separation roller 1202,
the separation plate 125 allows only the uppermost sheet P of the sheets
P to pass the position, and blocks the other sheets P located under the
sheet P.

[0033] The cylindrical base member 1213t is pressed (biased) in the
direction of an arrow D41 centering around the axis O1 by a
not-illustrated resilient member, such as a coil spring. Further, in the
standby state, the cylindrical base member 1213t is stopped by a
not-illustrated hook-shaped member in a direction against the force of
the above-described resilient member. As a result, the rod-shaped member
1213s provided to radially extend from the cylindrical base member 1213t
is placed at the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0034] The locking member 123 is supported by a not-illustrated frame of
the image forming apparatus 1 to rotate around an axis O2 extending in
the x-axis directions. The mass of a portion of the locking member 123
located on the +y direction side of the axis O2 is greater than the mass
of a portion of the locking member 123 located on the -y direction side
of the axis O2. Due to the gravity, therefore, the locking member 123
rotates around the axis O2 in the direction of an arrow D42. A +y
direction-side end portion of the locking member 123 is hook-shaped, and
a leading end portion 123p of the locking member 123 is in contact with
the stopper 124. Therefore, the rotation of the locking member 123 in the
direction of the arrow D42 is stopped at the position illustrated in FIG.
4.

[0035] The stopper 124 is supported by the not-illustrated frame of the
image forming apparatus 1 to rotate around an axis O3 extending in the
x-axis directions. The mass of a portion of the stopper 124 located on
the -y direction side of the axis O3 is greater than the mass of a
portion of the stopper 124 located on the +y direction side of the axis
O3. Due to the gravity, therefore, the stopper 124 rotates around the
axis O3 in the direction of an arrow D43. A portion of the stopper 124
facing the locking member 123 is hook-shaped, and a leading end portion
124p of the stopper 124 is engaged with the hook-shaped end portion of
the locking member 123. Therefore, the rotation of the stopper 124 in the
direction of the arrow D43 is stopped when the stopper 124 is in the
posture illustrated in FIG. 4 (hereinafter referred to as the first
posture). With the stopper 124 stopped by the locking member 123 to
maintain the first posture, respective leading end portions Pa of the
plural sheets P stored in the container are aligned along the stopper
124. Further, in the first posture, the stopper 124 prevents the sheets P
from being supplied by the supply roller 1201.

[0036] The projecting portion 1213a is formed to be smaller than the
internal space of the lever receiving member 1203. FIG. 5 is a diagram
for describing the projecting portion 1213a inserted in the lever
receiving member 1203. FIG. 5 illustrates the lever receiving member 1203
and the projecting portion 1213a in the standby state of the supply unit
120, as viewed in the -x direction. In the standby state, an upper
surface 1213u of the projecting portion 1213a supports a top plate 1203u
of the lever receiving member 1203 to press the top plate 1203u upward in
the +z direction. Further, the distance between the top plate 1203u and a
bottom plate 1203b of the lever receiving member 1203 is greater than the
distance between the upper surface 1213u and a lower surface 1213b of the
projecting portion 1213a by a distance AL. In the standby state,
therefore, a clearance having the distance AL is present between the
lower surface 1213b of the projecting portion 1213a and the bottom plate
1203b of the lever receiving member 1203.

[0037] A leading end portion 1213p illustrated in FIG. 4 is a portion of
the rod-shaped member 1213s of the lever 1213 facing the locking member
123. When the lever 1213 rotates in the direction of the arrow D41, the
leading end portion 1213p of the lever 1213 comes into contact with the
locking member 123, and rotates the locking member 123 in a direction
opposite to the direction of the arrow D42. A surface of the locking
member 123, with which the leading end portion 1213p comes into contact,
will be referred to as the contact surface 123s. The leading end portion
1213p comes into contact with the contact surface 123s, and presses the
contact surface 123s in the -z direction while sliding thereon.

1-3. Operation

[0038] An operation of the supply section 12 will be described. When the
supply unit 120 of the supply section 12 rotates and the supply roller
1201 descends toward an upper surface Pu of the sheets P, the following
phenomena sequentially occur.

[0039] In a first phenomenon, the upper surface 1213u of the projecting
portion 1213a separates from the top plate 1203u of the lever receiving
member 1203. In a second phenomenon, the leading end portion 1213p of the
lever 1213 hits against the contact surface 123s of the locking member
123. In a third phenomenon, the leading end portion 123p of the locking
member 123 separates from the leading end portion 124p of the stopper
124. In a fourth phenomenon, the lower surface 1213b of the projecting
portion 1213a hits against the bottom plate 1203b of the lever receiving
member 1203. In a fifth phenomenon, the supply roller 1201 hits against
the upper surface Pu of the sheets P. The above phenomena will be
described below.

[0040]FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a state in which the lever 1213
has rotated and separated the locking member 123 from the stopper 124.
When the foregoing hook-shaped member separates from the cylindrical base
member 1213t, the lever 1213 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D41
illustrated in FIG. 4 by the force of the resilient member. In this
process, the supply unit 120 maintains the position illustrated in FIG. 4
owing to the inertia or the upward pressing force of the not-illustrated
resilient member, such as a spring, acting in the +z direction. The
supply unit 120 and the lever 1213 are not connected to each other.
Therefore, the upper surface 1213u of the projecting portion 1213a
separates from the top plate 1203u of the lever receiving member 1203
(first phenomenon).

[0041] Then, in accordance with the rotation of the lever 1213 in the
direction of the arrow D41, the leading end portion 1213p comes into
contact with and presses the contact surface 123s of the locking member
123 (second phenomenon). Therefore, the locking member 123 is moved from
the position illustrated in FIG. 4 (a determined position). That is, as
illustrated in FIG. 6, the locking member 123 rotates around the axis O2
in the direction of an arrow D61 (a direction opposite to the direction
of the arrow D42 illustrated in FIG. 4). Thereby, the leading end portion
123p of the locking member 123 is lifted upward in the +z direction above
the leading end portion 124p of the stopper 124, and the locking member
123 and the stopper 124 separate from each other (third phenomenon). As a
result, the restriction on the stopper 124 imposed by the locking member
123 is released.

[0042] When the lever 1213 further rotates in the direction of the arrow
D41 illustrated in FIG. 4, the lower surface 1213b of the projecting
portion 1213a hits against the bottom plate 1203b of the lever receiving
member 1203 (fourth phenomenon). Thereby, the supply unit 120 maintained
at the position illustrated in FIG. 4 moves, and the supply roller 1201
descends toward the upper surface Pu of the sheets P. As a result, the
supply roller 1201 comes into contact with the upper surface Pu of the
sheets P (fifth phenomenon). The supply roller 1201 having come into
contact with the upper surface Pu of the sheets P is rotated around an
axis O4 in the direction of an arrow D64 illustrated in FIG. 6 by a
not-illustrated drive mechanism. Thereby, the uppermost stacked sheet P
of the plural sheets P stored in the container is supplied in the -y
direction.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing the movement of the stopper 124
performed when the sheet P is supplied. As described above, the third
phenomenon precedes the fifth phenomenon. Therefore, the stopper 124 is
released from the load of the locking member 123 before the sheet P is
moved by the supply roller 1201. When the sheet P is supplied, therefore,
the stopper 124 is rotatable around the axis O3. That is, the stopper 124
allows the sheet P (medium) to be supplied by the supply roller 1201.

[0044] When the supply roller 1201 supplies the sheet P in the direction
of an arrow D71 illustrated in FIG. 7, the leading end portion Pa of the
sheet P at the leading end in the supply direction of the sheet P presses
the stopper 124. With this pressing force, the stopper 124 rotates around
the axis O3 in the direction of an arrow D72 illustrated in FIG. 7. As a
result, an end portion 124b of the stopper 124, which is far from the
axis O3 and aligns the leading end portions Pa of the sheets P in the
standby state, is lifted upward in the +z direction, and the stopper 124
takes the posture illustrated in FIG. 7 (hereinafter referred to as the
second posture). The stopper 124 in the second posture is unable to
prevent the supply of the sheet P, and the sheet P is supplied to the
separation roller 1202. If a bundle of plural sheets P reaches the
separation plate 125, the sheets P are separated by the separation plate
125, and are transported one by one to the transport unit 16 by the
separation roller 1202. While the sheet P is being supplied by the supply
unit 120 and in contact with the end portion 124b of the stopper 124, the
stopper 124 is in the second posture. Then, after the sheet P passes the
end portion 124b, the stopper 124 returns to the first posture
illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0045] If the supply of the sheet P by the supply unit 120 is completed
when the stopper 124 is in the posture illustrated in FIG. 6, the
cylindrical base member 1213t of the lever 1213 is pressed by the
not-illustrated member, and the lever 1213 rotates around the axis O1 in
the direction of an arrow D73 illustrated in FIG. 7, i.e., a direction
opposite to the direction of the arrow D41 illustrated in FIG. 4.
Accordingly, the upper surface 1213u of the projecting portion 1213a
presses the top plate 1203u of the lever receiving member 1203 upward in
the +z direction. Therefore, the supply unit 120 rotates around the axis
O1 in the direction of the arrow D73. As a result, the supply roller 1201
ascends and separates from the upper surface Pu of the sheets P.

[0046] Further, the leading end portion 1213p of the lever 1213 ascends
and separates from the contact surface 123s of the locking member 123.
Therefore, the locking member 123 rotates around the axis O2 in the
direction of the arrow D42 illustrated in FIG. 4. As a result, the
leading end portion 123p of the locking member 123 comes into contact
with the stopper 124, and the hook-shaped portion of the locking member
123 and the hook-shaped portion of the stopper 124 engage with each
other. Thereby, the stopper 124 is fixed, and thus the leading end
portions Pa of the sheets P stored in the container are stably aligned.
Then, when the lever 1213 reaches a certain position, the foregoing
not-illustrated hook-shaped member engages with the cylindrical base
member 1213t. Therefore, the supply unit 120 is held at the position.
Thereby, the supply section 12 returns to the standby state.

[0047] According to configurations of related art (Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. 2002-179274 and U.S. Pat. No.
7,571,905), when a supply unit is lowered, a stopper is released from a
locking member in conjunction with the movement of the supply unit. Thus,
the stopper is not reliably released before the supply unit starts moving
toward a position at which the supply unit comes into contact with media.
Therefore, it is required to take a relatively long distance between the
supply unit and the uppermost surface of the media to prevent a supply
roller of the supply unit from coming into contact with the media before
the stopper is released.

[0048] Meanwhile, as described above, the stopper 124 of the supply
section 12 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be
released from the load of the locking member 123 before the sheet P is
moved by the supply roller 1201. Therefore, the distance between the
uppermost surface of the media and the supply unit 120 is shorter than
that of the related art, and the image forming apparatus 1 is reduced in
size.

2. MODIFIED EXAMPLES

[0049] The above is the description of the exemplary embodiment. However,
the contents of the exemplary embodiment may be modified as follows.
Further, the following modified examples may be combined.

2-1. First Modified Example

[0050] In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the lever 1213 is a
member including the cylindrical base member 1213t covering a side
surface of the shaft 1211 and the rod-shaped member 1213s radially
extending from the cylindrical base member 1213t. However, the lever 1213
may be a member having another configuration. For example, the lever 1213
may include a fan-shaped member which rotates around the axis of the
shaft 1211. In this case, the configuration may be modified such that,
when the fan-shaped member rotates, a linear portion of the fan-shaped
member comes into contact with and moves the locking member 123 and
releases the stopper 124, and that the fan-shaped member thereafter comes
into contact with the lever receiving member 1203 and moves the supply
unit 120 to cause the supply roller 1201 to come into contact with the
sheet P. That is, it suffices if the lever 1213 is a rotary member which
is supported to be rotatable around the axis of the shaft 1211, and
which, when rotated, moves the locking member 123 located at a determined
position and releases the restriction on the stopper 124 imposed by the
locking member 123, and thereafter moves the supply roller 1201 and
brings the supply roller 1201 into contact with the sheet P (medium).

2-2. Second Modified Example

[0051] In the above-described exemplary embodiment, when the lever 1213
rotates in the direction of the arrow D41 illustrated in FIG. 4, the
leading end portion 1213p of the lever 1213 comes into contact with the
contact surface 123s of the locking member 123, and presses the contact
surface 123s in the -z direction while sliding thereon. However, the
drive force accompanying the rotation of the lever 1213 may be
transmitted to the locking member 123 by another mode. For example, the
lever 1213 and the locking member 123 may be tied together by a string or
the like loosened in the standby state. In this case, the configuration
may be modified such that, when the lever 1213 rotates, the string is
stretched to rotate the locking member 123 in the direction of the arrow
D61 illustrated in FIG. 6. That is, the configuration may be modified
such that, when the lever 1213 rotates, the lever 1213 moves the locking
member 123 before moving the supply roller 1201, to thereby release the
restriction on the movement of the stopper 124 imposed by the locking
member 123.

2-3. Third Modified Example

[0052] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, when the
lever 1213 further rotates in the direction of the arrow D41 illustrated
in FIG. 4 after the locking member 123 and the stopper 124 separate from
each other, the lower surface 1213b of the projecting portion 1213a hits
against the bottom plate 1203b of the lever receiving member 1203 and
moves the supply unit 120. However, the drive force accompanying the
rotation of the lever 1213 may be transmitted to the supply unit 120 by
another mode. For example, as described above, the lever 1213 may be tied
to the supply unit 120 by a string. That is, it suffices if the lever
1213 is a rotary member which, when rotated, moves the supply roller 1201
and brings the supply roller 1201 into contact with the sheet P. In this
case, the string may be extended by an extra length such that the string
is loosened in the standby state to allow the lever 1213 to move the
locking member 123 before moving the supply roller 1201.

[0053] The transmission of the drive force of the lever 1213 is not
limited to the string, and the drive force may be transmitted to the
locking member 123 or the supply unit 120 by various transmission
mechanisms, such as a link mechanism, a gear mechanism, a crank
mechanism, and a rack-and-pinion mechanism, for example.

[0054] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications
and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby
enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for
various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to
the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.